61. Single Preview of Take Everything by Stonehocker

Originally Published November 6th, 2024

About the Artist

“I remember writing it and the relief I felt when I wrote those words, ‘take everything.’” 

In the history of songwriting, it can’t be summed up better than this. I’ve heard countless songs in my life. Notes, lyrics, melodies, and progressions spanning back literal centuries. It’s all derivative. Some argue that music is derived within itself and there’s no originality to it anymore. If only that were true. I, for one, don’t believe that because I know the relief that Stonehocker is referencing. The feeling of taking what is inside of us and letting it out. There are more than 8 billion people on this planet. Yet not one of us has a matching fingerprint. Say for identical twins, our DNA is completely different from one person to the next. So, suffice it to say, we experience differently. Sure, there may be similarities, commonalities, and unity. But the subtle differences substantiate the originality that we experience every day. 

Stonehocker, from a small town in Alberta, has been leaving traces of his experiences over the course of a musical career spanning back to his college days and the campus where he recorded the first of his independent projects. Four albums later, he has continued his journey from the small home recording studio where he continues how to figure out what he feels and how best to articulate that.

“I think a lot of people are carrying a weight around. Loads of guilt, bitterness, or angst. Were walking alone; despite being surrounded by people, bearing our burdens.” Stonehocker, like other songwriters and artistically creative people, has found the outlet to illustrate those feelings and emotions. He does so with elegance and conviction. Take Everything encompasses that gratification; the unburdening of a feeling that has been trying to eat its way out of its host.

About the Song

Take Everything is an alternative rock song by the independent recording artist, Stonehocker. It is scheduled and will release throughout all digital platforms on November 8th, 2024. At Three and a half minutes, it features Stonehocker on vocals, guitar, as well as percussion and bass.

About the Music

Take Everything immediately kicks off with the full band in play, along with the vocals provided by Stonehocker. This song is very much an alternative rock song, but has the subtle influence of an Irish Jig. Though the songs are comparably different, I was reminded of If I Ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly. There are different fingerprints and DNA, but they get each other. 

I love the layered sound of the acoustic guitars, providing the real push instrumentally. The brilliance of this song comes at the bridge where he incorporates a higher harmonizing vocal part. Then, he comes back into the chorus and hits an outro that introduces the most subtle of electric guitar parts. But wow, does it embolden the song and convey an emotional reaction that puts Take Everything on a whole new plane. It gives me a similar reaction as to when I listen to Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine.

Musically, this is a very strong song. It’s heavily acoustic but offers dynamic transitions through percussion, layering, and melodic builds.

About the Lyrics

Lyrically, Take Everything is a stoic approach to reacting to negative feelings.

“When all I can feel is anger. When all I feel is disdain. For every comment that they make. Everything that I take the wrong way. When I feel alone in the world. When I can’t handle the hurt. When I’m looking for a place to hide. When my home is not a him.” 

Here the narrator is listing examples of moments where he might be feeling a problematic way. From the sound of this, the chorus may come in with a solution to these feelings.

“Take everything. Here it is, everything. Take everything, it’s too much for me. Take everything.”

Here it sounds like either the narrator is giving up to the struggles or he is letting go of the struggles. Stonehocker says of the song, “My burdens broke me, it was inevitable, yet I’m still here to sing this song; because I surrendered.” So, we can conclude he is definitely letting go here.

I really appreciate this. Because I can definitely relate to feeling uncontrollably overwhelmed. Sometimes, the best release is TO release. I think that’s what Stonehocker means here.

Final Thoughts

Stonehocker has put a really great effort out here with Take Everything. A note on the song; this is actually the second single released ahead of an upcoming album. The first single, I Am Divided, released on August 30th. This will be Stonehocker’s second publicly released album behind 2022’s Ups and Downs, though he has released two previous albums not available on streaming platforms.

Go check out Stonehocker on Spotify and be sure to follow him on Instagram and Threads. Take Everything will be available to stream EVERYWHERE on November 8th and I’m told that there is a music video in post production, so make sure you subscribe to his YouTube channel. You can also see the video for I am Divided which is streaming now!